Surge in drugs abuse, the dark side of education in Pakistan

A research paper published in 2020 cited that “Around 700 people die every day in Pakistan due to drug-related complications.” Approximately 71.5% of drug addicts are younger than 35 years, and interestingly, the majority of them are either students or associated with educational institutions in other ways.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed in 2013 that drug addiction in Pakistan was increasing rapidly, with 50,000 to 100,000 new addicts being added annually. Despite numerous similar studies being published throughout the decade, the government has failed to launch a single campaign to prevent the influence of narcotics in schools, colleges, and higher education institutions.

Things did not stop there. Educational and law enforcement authorities remained silent over incidents that openly encouraged youth towards addiction. The Islamia University Bahawalpur’s 5500 Videos Scandal was one such incident. In an article published in DAWN, the author highlighted the youth’s perspective with a statement: “Classmates who take drugs are considered ‘cool’.” But the author did not disclose who considers them “cool.” Teachers?

Currently, there are around 8 million drug addicts in Pakistan. How can a country where even alcoholic beverages are banned have such a high number of addicts?

How can we prevent illicit drugs at campuses?

Well, the question should rather be, “Can we prevent the illicit drugs at campuses?“. And my answer is “May not be”. Things have been gone way out of control than many would expect. During a survey of one of my research paper, a student wrote “If illicit drugs are that harmful, why don’t government just allow us to take a lesson by trying this”.

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Here are some of the factors that might be hurdles between preventions of drugs at campuses.

  1. Lack of Awareness: Many students don’t fully understand the dangers of drugs, and there isn’t enough education or campaigns to spread awareness in schools and colleges.
  2. Peer Pressure: Students may feel pressured to try drugs to fit in with certain groups or appear “cool” among friends.
  3. Weak Law Enforcement: Authorities and educational institutions often ignore or downplay drug-related incidents, making it easier for drugs to spread without consequences.
  4. Easy Access: Despite strict laws, drugs can still be found easily, especially around colleges and universities, making it hard to control.
  5. Cultural Silence: Talking about drug use is often considered taboo in many communities, so people avoid discussing the problem, which prevents open efforts to tackle it.
  6. Lack of Support Systems: There are few effective support systems or rehabilitation programs for students struggling with addiction, making it harder to recover and stay clean.

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History of drugs in Asia

Developed nations have historically supported the legalization of harmful drugs for business purposes. When Britain colonized South Asia, they began the production of opium and cocaine shortly after establishing British missionary schools. A significant portion of the East India Company’s profits came from the drug trade. Several alcohol and tobacco-related factories were also established during British rule.

Opium and cocaine directly affect the nervous system, weakening the human body. In response to this, the Qing Dynasty of China banned these drugs. Britain, however, wanted to continue exporting them, not only for wealth but also to weaken China from afar. After various political strategies failed, Britain decided to attack China.

China could not withstand the conflict and eventually agreed to sign the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. As a result, the Chinese territory of Hong Kong was handed over to Britain as a colony, and the opium trade continued. This region later experienced the Second Opium War in 1865 and the 1967 Opium War, both fought over the prohibition of the illegal trade of 16 tons of opium.

During the Soviet-Afghan War, the United States began supporting the cultivation of opium in Afghanistan. Later, the CIA indirectly facilitated its trade. This led to a series of civil wars in the region, many of which remain unresolved to this day.